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The 12 Books of Christmas

The snow shovels and boots have been unearthed from the garage, staff parties are being booked, and yes, those are Christmas decorations on display at each and every big box store.

The snow shovels and boots have been unearthed from the garage, staff parties are being booked, and yes, those are Christmas decorations on display at each and every big box store. Believe it or not, the holiday season is already upon us (or at the very least, bearing down like a freight train). This year, rather than revert to the standard, safe go-to gift certificates for folks on your shopping list, we recommend buying a book. Yes, that's right, remember those relics? They can make for a very thoughtful, and relatively inexpensive, gift for just about anyone. This year, we've compiled a list of 12 recent literary releases from local writers that will entertain and intrigue kids, adventurers, aspiring chefs, sports enthusiasts and amateur historians. Happy reading!

 

The Alphabet Goes to Ski and Snowboard School

By Tracy Higgs

$19.99

The Alphabet Goes to Ski and Snowboard School was published last November, but it's really a timeless Whistler classic for kids from infancy to the first few years of school.

Originally from Ontario, Tracy Higgs started skiing when she was 12 years old. She went on to ski race in high school and moved to Whistler almost 12 years ago to live the mountain lifestyle.

These days, she's busy with two young children, but that didn't stop her from self-publishing her first book last year. In fact, the children inspired the project.

"I always thought at some point I would publish a book, but I never thought it would be a kids' book," she admitted with a grin. "I thought it would have something to do with nutrition or health, or something like that."

She began working on the project in summer 2008, after she had her first son, Cole.

"Cole played an important role because he slept a lot," Higgs laughed. "So he was a really good napper; he allowed me to have the time to do it."

During a family trip to Hawaii, she saw a book called, S Goes Surfing , an alphabet book that teaches kids about the surf lifestyle and culture, and decided that she should make something similar for the future skiers and snowboarders who are currently toddling around in diapers.

"I realized that I'm a parent who's into outdoor activities and mountain activities, and I'm not really as into football, baseball and soccer - the traditional sports for boys - and all the books have to do with those sorts of stories. I decided I wanted a book that was more related to what I was into and where I was living and what we're surrounded by."

Higgs certainly isn't alone here in Whistler, or any other mountain town - there are loads of parents who are eagerly awaiting the moment that they can finally strap their little ones into skis and initiate them into the ranks of the groms.

Filled with brilliant, colourful illustrations by another Whistler resident and photojournalist, Christine Feleki, the book is designed to be an interactive learning tool, with additional questions and activities listed at the back of the book to encourage and challenge kids and parents to continue learning their alphabet.

"A lot of times, you read a book and you just read the book, and you just read what's on the page, there's no creativity involved, whereas in this book, there are so many stages you can go through. I barely read it to Cole, I'm usually like, 'find me the skis, find me the pole, find me the bird in the tree,' and he'll point out all these different things."

So far, Higgs has received nothing but positive feedback and has already sold almost 1,000 copies. It's available locally at Armchair Books, Carlbergs and Whoola Toys.

 

Mountain Machines

By Sara Leach

$9.95

 

Little kids love big machines - it's a proven fact. Local author Sara Leach discovered that a few years ago while driving Highway 99 with her two-year-old son, Ben.

"...He was completely obsessed (with machines)," Leach said. "It was right at the start of all the construction on the highway, so we'd drive down the highway and he'd just start getting cranky as we hit the construction."

Leach spent the next half-hour of the drive pointing out the machinery they drove past, which turned out to be a learning experience for both the child and the parent.

"All of a sudden I knew all these machines. I used to think they were all just tractors!" she laughed.

The experience inspired her to write "Mountain Machines," a rhyming-counting book geared towards kids aged two to five. It's chock-full of fun, rhyming text about groomers, pipe dragons, gondolas and the rest of the ski hill machinery that is all too familiar to us here in Whistler.

The text is complemented by the colourful, cartoony illustrations of California-based artist, Steven Corvelo.

Each machine has a distinct personality. And Marty Marmot is hidden on each page for kids to find. It's a fun and educational read for kids and parents, who will be able to relate to the subject matter (and maybe even learn a few things in the process).

It's available at Armchair Books or online www.mountainmachines.ca .